CITY OF CLEVELAND · MAYOR JUSTIN M. BIBB
2026 Community Grant Application
The Cleveland Community Police Commission funds community-based violence prevention, restorative justice, and mediation programs. This cycle’s grants cover two years: 2026–2027.
KEY DATES
Application Window
The application is open for the full month of October. Organizations selected for funding receive a two-year grant for the 2026–2027 cycle.
Application opens
Thursday, October 1, 2026
Application closes
Saturday, October 31, 2026
All applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on October 31, 2026. Late applications will not be accepted. Screening begins the first week of November (see Review Process below).
FROM THE COMMISSION
A Welcome from the CPC
Dear Applicant,
Thank you for your interest in the Cleveland Community Police Commission’s 2026 grant program. Cleveland’s City Charter gives the Commission the authority to fund community-based violence prevention, restorative justice, and mediation — work that reduces the need for police involvement by strengthening the neighborhoods we share.
Selected organizations are funded for two years, not one. We know a complete application takes real effort, especially for smaller, community-rooted groups. That’s why the application stays open for the full month and why every requirement is explained below.
If anything on this page is unclear, please contact us. We would much rather answer a question in October than see a strong application fall short over a missing form.
With appreciation,
The Cleveland Community Police Commission
The Cleveland Community Police Commission
ELIGIBILITY
Who Can Apply
The Commission selects up to 20 grantees each cycle across two funding categories. Open each box for details.
Basic eligibility requirementsAll applicants must meet these five requirements
- Be a community-based organization headquartered in, or directly serving, the City of Cleveland.
- Be a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, or have a written agreement with an Ohio 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor, or qualify for the alternative pathway for grassroots groups without formal nonprofit status.
- Propose a program in violence prevention, restorative justice, or mediation.
- Not be debarred or suspended from City, State, or federal funding, and have no unresolved breach of a prior CPC grant agreement.
- Be able to complete the Commission’s standard due-diligence screening before any award is finalized.
Special Interest Group GranteesUp to 5 grants
Organizations that reflect, are led by, or primarily serve communities named in the City Charter — including immigrant and refugee communities, the LGBTQ+ community, and people directly affected by police or gun violence.
Grassroots Organization GranteesUp to 15 grants
Community-rooted organizations with an annual operating budget of $1,000,000 or less, demonstrated accountability to the Cleveland neighborhood they serve, and a limited history of large government or foundation grants.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
What to Submit
All 12 items below are required. Gather them before you begin — incomplete applications are returned for correction, which takes time away from your review.
1Current IRS Form W-9
A completed, signed W-9 on the most current version of the form. Your legal name and address must match your other documents exactly. No P.O. boxes.
Example: A 501(c)(3) lists its legal corporate name (not a program nickname) and its physical street address.
2Certificate of Good Standing
Issued by the Ohio Secretary of State, confirming your organization is active and up to date on state filings.
Example: Search your organization’s name in the Secretary of State’s business database. If the status shows “Active,” order the certificate — a one-page PDF with the state seal.
3501(c)(3) determination letter or fiscal sponsor agreement
Nonprofits submit their IRS determination letter. Applicants without their own 501(c)(3) status submit a written agreement from an Ohio 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor that will manage the grant funds on their behalf.
Example: The one- or two-page IRS letter granting your tax exemption, showing your EIN — or, for a sponsored project, a signed letter on the sponsoring nonprofit’s letterhead.
4Organization information
Your EIN, legal name, any “doing business as” (DBA) names, headquarters address, and the Cleveland ward where that address is located.
Example: “EIN 34-XXXXXXX; also operates as [DBA name]; headquartered at [street address], Ward 5.”
5Leadership and ownership list
A current list of your officers, directors, and anyone who owns or controls 25% or more of the organization.
Example: A simple roster — Board Chair, Treasurer, Executive Director — with full legal names.
6Program narrative
A written description of your proposed program: who it serves, where, the outcomes you expect, and how it reduces the need for police involvement.
Example: “This program provides street outreach and violence interruption to young adults ages 16–24 in Slavic Village, aiming to reduce retaliatory violence by connecting participants to mediation and case management.”
7Two-year program budget
A budget covering both grant years, broken down by category: personnel, program supplies, facility costs, participant support, training, and evaluation. Administrative (overhead) costs may not exceed 15% of the award.
Example: A simple spreadsheet with a line for each position and cost category, totaled by year.
8Proof of organizational capacity
Documentation of your past program experience, key staff qualifications, and results from past programs, if available.
Example: A one-page staff bio sheet, or a short summary of how many people a similar past program served.
9Category-specific documents
Grassroots Organization applicants: documentation of your operating budget, governance structure, and roots in the community you serve.
Special Interest Group applicants: documentation showing how your organization represents or serves the community category you are applying under.
Example: A prior-year financial statement showing an operating budget under $1,000,000, plus a short history of your organization’s work in the neighborhood.
10Signed compliance certification
A statement signed by an authorized officer certifying that your organization complies with anti-money-laundering, anti-bribery, and anti-terrorism-financing laws.
Example: A fillable form provided in the application, signed by your Executive Director or Board Chair.
11Banking information
Account information for direct deposit of grant payments. The account must be in your organization’s name (or your fiscal sponsor’s).
Example: A voided check, or a letter from your bank confirming the account name, routing number, and account number.
12Letter of Support
A completed and signed Letter of Support request form — usually signed by your Ward Council Member’s office. See the Letter of Support section below for the template and instructions.
KEY REQUIREMENT
The Letter of Support
You do not write this letter yourself. It is a two-part form: you fill out Part One, bring it to an eligible community member — usually your Ward Council Member’s office — and they fill out and sign Part Two, then return it to you to include with your application.
- Fill out Part One with your organization’s name, program, ward, and contact information.
- Deliver the form in person or by mail to your Ward Council Member’s office or another eligible signer.
- The signer fills out Part Two and signs, confirming they know your organization’s work.
- Ask the signer to attach a business card or official contact card, if possible, so we can verify who signed.
Who can — and cannot — signSigners must be in good standing in the ward you serve
A City of Cleveland resident, business owner, or recognized community leader in good standing in the ward your organization serves, who can speak to your work there. Your Ward Council Member’s office is preferred.
Can sign
- Your Ward Council Member or their staff
- A longtime resident of the ward you serve
- An established local business owner
- A recognized civic, neighborhood, or faith leader
Cannot sign
- A board member, officer, or employee of your organization
- A relative of your leadership or staff
- A funder or vendor with a financial stake in your award
- Anyone outside the ward your program serves
View the Letter of Support formParts One and Two — bring this to your signer
CITY OF CLEVELAND
Cleveland Community Police Commission — Letter of Support Request Form
Part One — Completed by the Applicant Organization
[Organization legal name]
[Ward number served]
[Program / project name]
[Date delivered to signer]
[Contact name]
[Contact phone / email]
Part Two — Completed, Signed, and Returned by the Signer
To the Cleveland Community Police Commission:
I, the undersigned, submit this Letter of Support for [Organization name from Part One] in connection with its 2026 grant application to the Cleveland Community Police Commission (the “Commission”). I serve as [Title / role — e.g., Council Member, Ward __] and represent the interests of Ward [Ward number].
I am personally familiar with this organization’s work, including: [describe the organization’s programs, community presence, or track record you know of].
Based on my knowledge of this organization’s presence, reputation, and contributions to the community it serves, I support its application and its proposed violence prevention, restorative justice, or mediation program, consistent with the purposes of City Charter § 115-5. I respectfully ask the Commission to give this application favorable consideration.
Respectfully submitted,
[Printed name]
[Title / role]
[Council office / organization]
[Phone number]
[Address, City of Cleveland]
[Email address]
Verification requested: If possible, please attach your business card or official Council Office contact card before returning this letter to the applicant. This helps the Commission verify your identity and affiliation.
Need a fillable Word version of this form? Email the CPC Grants Team at ljohnson4@clevelandohio.gov and we’ll send you one.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
How Applications Are Reviewed
Every complete, eligible application goes through a multi-step review before any funds are awarded.
- Oct 1 – 31, 2026Application windowSubmit your complete application through the online application by 11:59 p.m. on October 31.
- Nov 2026 – Jan 2027Completeness check & screeningStaff check each application within 10 business days. Incomplete applications are returned with a list of missing items and at least 10 business days to fix them.
- During screeningIndependent scoringAt least two reviewers score each application on a 100-point scale. A score of 60 or higher is needed to move forward.
- End of screeningFinalists selectedUp to 20 top-scoring organizations advance as finalists within their funding category.
- February 2027Site visitsEvery finalist receives an in-person visit to confirm staffing, space, and readiness.
- Late Feb – early Mar 2027*Recommendations & final approvalStaff present funding recommendations, and the full Commission votes to approve the final list of grantees. (*Tentative)
- Mid-March 2027Required orientationAll grantees attend a webinar on contract requirements, reporting, and payments.
- Late March 2027First paymentPayments begin once contracts are signed, cleared through legal review, and entered into the City’s financial system.
See the scoring rubricHow the 100 points are awarded
| Criterion | Points |
|---|---|
| Program impact & alignment with Charter purpose | 30 |
| Organizational capacity & track record | 20 |
| Community roots & representation | 20 |
| Budget feasibility & reasonableness | 15 |
| Outcome measurement & evaluation plan | 10 |
| Geographic & population need | 5 |
| Total | 100 |
QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the application open and close?
It opens October 1, 2026, and closes at 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
Is this a one-year or two-year grant?
This is a two-year grant for the 2026–2027 cycle.
How much funding can an organization receive?
The CPC can make grants of up to $50,000 on its own authority. Larger requests are possible but take a longer approval process.
I received a grant before. Can I apply again?
Yes, if you followed the program’s requirements during your previous grant. Organizations must wait one year after a Grant Term ends before reapplying. Applications may be denied if past deadlines or requirements were missed.
I was awarded a grant in a past year but never received the funds. Is it too late?
No. Contact the CPC office and we’ll walk you through the next steps.
Can grantees also respond to CPC requests for proposals (RFPs)?
No. To avoid a conflict of interest, grantees may not respond to RFPs posted by the CPC during the same period.
What is a fiscal sponsor, and when do I need one?
A fiscal sponsor is an Ohio 501(c)(3) nonprofit that manages grant funds for an organization that can’t contract directly with the City. You need one if your organization is not a 501(c)(3).
Who fills out and signs my Letter of Support?
You fill out Part One and bring the form to a Cleveland resident, business owner, or recognized community leader in good standing in the ward you serve — usually your Ward Council Member’s office. They fill out Part Two and sign it. Your own board, staff, relatives, or funders cannot sign. See the Letter of Support section above.
Are site visits required?
Yes. Site visits help confirm that funds are used correctly and give the Commission a chance to support your program’s success throughout the grant.
Is grant award information public?
Yes. Award amounts and related documents are public records, though personal information about individuals is protected.
How can I track my application?
The CPC is launching an online tracking tool for real-time status updates, expected before grantees are announced.
Who do I contact with questions?
Email the CPC Grants Team at ljohnson4@clevelandohio.gov. We’ll respond as soon as we can.
Ready to Apply?
Applications are accepted October 1–31, 2026. Questions before you submit? We’re happy to help.